Veteran US broadcaster 'Sonny' Eliot dies

FARMINGTON HILLS, Michigan (AP):Long-time broadcaster Marvin 'Sonny' Eliot, whose corny jokes and genial manner endeared him to audiences in Detroit in the United States for decades, died last Friday morning. He was 91.

Friend and co-worker Don Swindell said Eliot died at his home in the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills after an illness.

One of the city's most well-known media personalities, Eliot was a throwback to a time when local television established its identity through non-news programming built.

He hosted movies on local TV, voiced countless commercials and served as umpire for the ceremonial first pitch at Detroit Tigers openers.

But his longest-lasting gig was as a weathercaster, first on WWJ radio in 1950 - a job he held well into the 21st century - as well as on local television stations.

Some listeners endured and others found endearing his fast-paced weathercasts punctuated with hybrid words like "snog" (snow and fog), high temperatures overseas delivered more or less in the local language, predictions of the score of that night's Detroit Red Wings game - without identifying the winner - and one-liners like, "It's colder than a former wife's hello."

'A serious guy'

Bob Weitz, Eliot's nephew, said for as long and varied as his uncle's broadcasting career was, "you gotta remember he was more than that".

Weitz said Eliot wrote four children's books and was fluent in several languages, and was "a serious guy" despite his public penchant for gags and goofing off.

"We were like brothers - Sonny was always my hero," Weitz said.

Eliot's professional career began in 1947 after he was called to perform a bit part in a local variety show produced by Detroit's WWJ-TV, now NBC affiliate WDIV.

He ended up staying 35 years, hosting programs including the 17-year series 'At the Zoo' and the annual J.L. Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

He also appeared on children's programs, quiz shows, comedy-variety productions, specials and commercials.

Eliot retired in 2010 from broadcasting, announcing the end of his career on WWJ.

Survivors include his wife, Annette, to whom he was married for more than 50 years.